Rajasthan Royals (RR) have won just three out of their 12 Indian Premier League (IPL) games, one of which came against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Since then, though, a lot has changed, some of it dramatically. RR have crashed out. PBKS have kept their momentum. The South Asian region teetered on the edge of chaos and somehow stumbled back. Even the IPL itself saw a sword dangling over it. A lot really has changed. One thing, however, has stayed as is, and that is how cutthroat and cruel this tournament remains.
Almost a week ago, India was on the brink of something that looked and felt like war. But the IPL doesn’t pause. The race for the playoffs doesn’t flinch. Teams with incomplete XIs will have to continue to fight. Even with half-baked lineups. And even a team like Punjab, with just three losses in eleven games, has no room to slow down.
That said, Punjab have had the kind of season one could only hope for when they ripped everything up and started fresh. At the same point last year, they had just eight points and a clearer view of the bottom of the table than the top. Bottom-tier finish was sort of their habitat in most of the previous season. But not anymore. They are now looking at a top-two finish, and that could get wrapped up neatly with a win in this one.
PBKS haven’t set foot in Jaipur this season, yet it’s now their adopted home, with the rest of their games scheduled here. If anything, this match doubles as a trial run before the main acts against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the very venue begin.
Team Overview:
Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis haven’t returned to India since the ceasefire, and from the looks of it, they won’t. But Punjab might feel quietly pleased they had signed another Aussie, Mitchell Owen, before the region went into crisis mode. Owen had a PSL deal with Peshawar Zalmi until May 18, so no jetlag nightmares should await him. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have already proven how impactful they are at the top. Barring Gujarat Titans (GT), no other team besides PBKS have stuck with the same opening pair since the start of the league. And rightly so, the pair strikes at the highest rate among all teams, a staggering 179.40. While Owen is expected to slot into Inglis’s role at No. 3, Punjab will still need to rummage through their bench to patch the hole left by Stoinis lower down the order.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi showed what he is capable of by blasting the fastest century of the league, but being merely a teenager, he still has quite a few edges to smooth. On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the closest RR have had to a constant. Batters like Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel have had flashes, even some pretty ones, but nothing that sticks around long enough in a league as cold-blooded as this one. And then there’s the bowling. RR have averaged a painful 45.01 with the ball, the worst by a mile this year. With Jofra Archer’s return not on the cards, the number might soon become an even bigger scar on their season.
Sanju Samson returning to captaincy is one rare patch of good news, though he might be a little too late in his return.
Head-to-Head Matches:
RR have managed 17 wins over PBKS in 28 matches, while PBKS got over the line in 12 games.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Jaipur is sweltering in 42 degrees heat, and since this is a day-night clash, it won’t exactly be a warm welcome for anyone hoping for a comeback. That said, it’s still Jaipur, still a pitch made for hitters. The 200-run mark has been breached thrice already here, and with dew unlikely to gatecrash, both teams will look to keep the crowd ducking for covers.
Prediction:
PBKS have everything they need to win this game and confirm a top four finish, at least, and with RR already so broken down, there may be little to no resistance.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
